Words by Emily Newbold (Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Kids First Occupational Therapy - https://www.kidsfirstot.com.au/blog/the-cuddle-club)
Key Takeaways
"As OTs the bread and butter of our therapy is sensory processing. Proprioception is one of the ‘hidden’ senses and relates to deep pressure felt in the muscles and joints of our body.
Have you ever done a sigh of relief when you’ve curled up under the duvet or felt relaxed when you’ve got pillows or blankets piled on top of you? The science behind this is associated with the tactile sensory system, particularly deep pressure stimulation. Through this sensory system the receptors in the skin are activated and switch on the calming side of the nervous system.
The use of weighted blankets or toys also activates the physiological calming effects of proprioceptive input as the joints and muscles receive sensations that help you become aware of your body and understand where it is in space. While weighted blankets were once for a specialised audience, they are now becoming mainstream within wellness and therapeutic settings, with more and more people experiencing the calming and healing effects of weighted products.
There is lots of scientific and anecdotal evidence about the benefits of weighted products in improving quality of sleep (including quickness of falling asleep) as well as anxiety and stress reduction. Within the realm of OT, specifically with paediatric clientele, we recommend parents and carers consider using weighted products with children for these reasons also.
The main benefits of weighted products for children include:
- Improving focus and attention
- Managing anxiety and stress
- Facilitate relaxation and provide calming
- Increase body awareness
- Enhance sensory integration
We have had Cuddle Club toys in our clinic for 4 weeks now, and they have been such a wonderful resource for our clients (aged 2 to 14) to use. Their soft fabric and even weight distribution means they are lovely to touch and feel, and when it rested on the lap or shoulders the weight is not uneven and calms the nervous system rather than disrupt it.
As OTs we love encouraging our clients (but also secretly love doing it ourselves...) to use weighted toys when doing activities seated on the floor or for tabletop activities with the toy in our lap. We have spied more than one therapist in the clinic with a weighted toy on their lap while doing desk work in the afternoon after a busy day with clients...
We can’t recommend The Cuddle Club plushy friends enough - lots of the clients at Kids First OT have seen the benefits of the weighted plushies already!"
Summary
In this insightful piece, Emily Newbold, a Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist at Kids First Occupational Therapy, highlights the significant benefits of weighted products, particularly The Cuddle Club's weighted plush toys (called The Cuddle Pals), in occupational therapy settings. She explains how proprioception, a often overlooked sensory system, plays a crucial role in our body's response to deep pressure. The article emphasises that weighted products, once considered specialised tools, have now become mainstream due to their proven benefits in improving sleep quality, reducing anxiety, and enhancing sensory integration.
Emily and her team of occupational therapists at Kids First Occupational Therapy have had an overwhelmingly positive experience with The Cuddle Pals. These weighted plushies have proven to be an excellent resource for clients aged 2 to 14, offering benefits such as improved focus, stress management, and increased body awareness. The even weight distribution and soft fabric of these toys make them particularly effective in providing calming sensory input without disrupting the nervous system.
Interestingly, the appeal of these weighted toys extends beyond just the young clients. Occupational therapists themselves have found comfort and focus while using these plushies during their own desk work, underscoring the universal appeal and effectiveness of The Cuddle Pals. This professional endorsement from Kids First OT serves as a strong testament to the therapeutic value of The Cuddle Club's weighted plush toys in supporting sensory processing and overall well-being.